I grew up using nothing but Zebco 33's. In fact, some of the 33's we used were probably built in the 60's. Last year for Father's day I got a new 33 combo and that reel feels like crap! It's no where near as smooth or heavy duty as they were just 10-20 years ago....what happened?!? Now, I ask that but sadly I know the answer....cheaper parts to make more profit, probably assembled in China by people that barely know what they are used for, and a lack of pride in what they, the assemblers, do for a living. In the past 10-15 years the quality of products coming from companies like Remington, Zebco, Federal, Winchester, Carhart, and many others that I used when I was much younger have just gone into the crapper. Many times the things I used when I was younger were hand-me-downs from Uncles and Grandparents that had been around for 20 plus years and they were still rock solid and some I still use today. My new Zebco 33....I wonder if it will last more than a couple of years as it is. When will these companies realize that people want quality products that they can count on for years to come? I love the great outdoors. Hunting and fishing, to me, are more then just hobbies. They are a family tradition and a passion that I am passing on to the next generation. In the past, people could pass along their equipment along with the knowledge they have gained from using it over the years. With the junk these once great companies are producing I wonder how much use the next generation will get out of the equipment I pass along to them.
Sorry for the rant. I don't expect much out of most of the cheap Chinese junk you buy at wal-mart, but Remington and Zebco are two companies I thought I could always count on for quality and dependability.
Chris